Blog

The Ridges

Jan 24, 2014

“The Ridges are an orchestral folk rock band from the Appalachian college town of Athens, Ohio. Rooted in the collaboration of Victor Rasgaitis (guitar, vocals) and Talor Smith (cello, vocals), the duo is supported live by a rotating cast of musicians adding classical and folk rock instrumentation ranging from cellos, violas, violins, upright bass, and horns to banjo, mandolin, accordion, and drums. By augmenting their aggressive, high-energy performances with haunting, all-acoustic instrumentation, The Ridges craft their own unique brand of indie rock compositions. It’s a distinct sound that overflows with the dark romanticism of their ominous namesake – Athens’ abandoned Victorian-style insane asylum where the band recorded their self-titled EP.

Known for bringing an electrifying energy to acoustic music, MidPoint Music Festival called them “”a rootsier, catchier Arcade Fire,”” while Daytrotter.com described their sound as “”the kind of Americana music that falls off the bone.”” It’s this unique duality that has found The Ridges just as comfortable sharing the stage with introspective folk favorites like Jessica Lea Mayfield, Ben Sollee, Horse Feathers, Good Old War, and Timbre, as when they’re playing with indie rockers like Ra Ra Riot, Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Ha Ha Tonka, Lucious, and Cayucas. A live band in every sense, they’ve honed their dynamic performance by supporting national headliners and independently touring the Midwest, East Coast, and South, while bringing stand-out showcases to Ohio’s MidPoint Music Festival, New York City’s CBGB Festival, and last year’s 7-set run of SXSW.

Never satisfied with anything less than unforgettable, The Ridges are committed to finding new ways to surprise their fans with fresh ideas. From an in-theater live film score to a Record Store Day exclusive choral recording, The Ridges’ passion for creatively customizing their definition of an indie band has gained them national momentum that is giving way to a full-length debut album expected for release in 2014.”